The inaugural Singapore Early Childhood Education Symposium (Chinese) on Teaching and Learning, held on 9th September 2017, was an eye opener for many as it offered networking opportunities for practitioners to share their experience, and also built our collective knowledge base. Approximately 300 early education professionals gathered at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) for a full day of content tailored to the latest developments in the designing, and managing of learning environments for early childhood education.
Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, SUSS president, started the day’s activities by giving recognition to the hard work of the teachers and their commitment to continually improve themselves professionally. Following that, guest–of-honour, Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Ministry of Education & Ministry of Trade and Industry), connected with the audience through her candid and engaging speech which actively engaged the participation of the audience, and concluded the opening segment on a high note.
Addressing the idea of plurality in teaching and learning through the theme, Multi-Perspectives, Diverse Contexts, Changing Landscape, the symposium’s four invited speakers generously shared their views and experiences on teaching and learning within the changing landscape of Chinese early childhood education in the region. Prof Hong Xiu-min began with a macro-view on how early education policies and management have changed over the last two decades, and how they have influenced contextual shifts in funding, teaching and learning, as well as teacher training. The morning session concluded with Prof Jiang Yong providing a thought-provoking discussion on the benchmarks and criteria for quality professional development.
While the first two speakers focused more on policy and industry standard benchmarking, the two speakers in the afternoon session provided practical yet innovative ideas, and advice on teaching and practice. Mr Cheah Eng Khoon engaged the participants through an enthusiastic account of his conviction in quality education and care for children which translated into enriching programmes in his centres, and his tireless advocacy for the field in Malaysia. Linking knowledge with theory-practice, Ms Liao Jui-lin demonstrated the powerful impact that music and movement has on a child’s intellectual, social and personal development. She also led the entire auditorium in enjoyable music and movement activities, which ended with an impressive human orchestra formation of rhythmical sounds, with the full participation of everyone in the auditorium!
During the panel discussion chaired by Dr Sin Joo Ee, a multitude of questions were raised by the participants. Nevertheless, remuneration and rewards seemed to be the bugbear for the majority of early childhood practitioners in the audience. In response, all four experts urged the participants to continue to hone - their skills and sustain their passion in serving children and families. Prof Hong particularly emphasised that it is through improvements across the whole sector - from policy making, to accreditation, and professional upgrading - that overall employment conditions of early childhood educators can be improved.
The inaugural Singapore Early Childhood Education Symposium was co-organised by the Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS@SUSS), and the Early Childhood Chinese programme of the School of Human Development and Social Services (HDSS) at SUSS, with the generous sponsorship of the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
2017 新加坡学前教育论坛
多元化的学前教育 – 转变与更新
以“多元化的学前教育 – 转变与更新” 为主题的第一届新加坡学前教育论坛于9月9日新跃社科大学举行。约300名学前教育领域的老师和工作者齐集一堂，出席了由新加坡教育部兼贸工部高级政务次长刘燕玲女士为主宾的全日活动。主办单位也很荣幸邀请到四位来自北京、上海、马来西亚和台湾的资深学前教育工作和研究者，同大家分享他们的经验和心得。
新跃社科大学校长张起杰教授在致欢迎词时对在第一线服务的学前教育老师们积极进取，不断提升自己，从而加强自身专业素养的精神表示赞许。主宾刘燕玲次长亲切、幽默的致词，让会场的气氛整个动了起来。
紧接着由北京师范大学洪秀敏教授以“多元化学前教育的变革与挑战”发表第一场演讲。洪教授以宏观视角向大家展示了学前教育领域的现状和发展，强调了学前教育所面对的多元，包括生源差异多元化、机构类型多元化、教育目标多元化、课程模式和内容多元化、教育方式和手段多元化、师资背景多元化、教育评价多元化等新的发展动向和趋势。洪教授也表示学前师资的专业提升和培训改革必须相辅相成，制订教师培训课程标准应适应市场和时代的变化。
华东师范大学姜勇教授就“多元化时代，我们要培养什么样的幼儿园教师，怎样培养”这个课题作探讨。姜教授重点讲述了学前教育教师个人的心灵和精神发展。在洪教授的基础上继续延伸和拓展了教师培训课程制定的标准。
在经过上午两位演讲嘉宾对学前教育领域的宏观分析，以及对政策和标准制定的探讨后，下午两位演讲嘉宾带领着老师们进入了更加具体的课程大纲的制定和方案的操作和实施中。马来西亚学前教育委员会前副主席，全国幼稚园教师公会顾问谢永坤先生讲述了“素质学前教育的实践与思考”，谢先生以创意教学和课程发展为主题进行阐述，引起了不少与会者的兴趣和提问。接着，台湾弘光科技大学讲师廖瑞琳老师以“幼儿美感经验与多元创意 – 幼儿音乐活动探究” 的主题，在欢快且全众参与的音乐合拍声中结束了当天四场精彩纷呈且内容丰富的讲座。
最后，在陈如意博士主持的现场座谈环节中，四位主讲嘉宾和与会者进行了热烈的讨论和问答。学前教育老师们提出了诸如薪酬和职业发展方向等方面的实质性问题。主讲嘉宾们鼓励大家要不忘初衷，保持工作的激情和热忱。通过自身认证和职业的提升，推动整个行业的提升、发展和专业化。在学前教育事业专业化和受到社会普遍重视和尊重的情况下，薪酬和职业发展的问题自然也会得到改善。
第一届新加坡学前教育论坛由新跃中华学术中心与人力发展与社会服务学院联合主办，并获得新加坡幼儿培育署的报名费津贴。